Miniature housing for pets and the like



14, 1967 J. ARTIG 3,308,789

MINIATURE HOUSING FOR PETS AND THE LIKE Filed June 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1967 J. L. ARTIG MINIATURE HOUSING FOR PETS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1965 United States Patent 3,308,789 MINIATURE HOUSING FOR PETS AND THE LIKE This invention is directed to improvements in building structures and in particular to a building having a bottom and a top received thereon with an access opening in the bottom that is covered by the top and eliminates drafts.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure or shelter that has a bottom with a removable, generally dome shaped top, the bottom having a vertical access opening over which the top also extends so as to cut down drafts and entrance of rain and snow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter for pets that has a transparent removable upper member to provide for the pet to see out 0nd to be viewed from without and to provide for easy removal of the top for cleaning the shelter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shelter for pets and the like which is attractive, has little if any upkeep and which may have adequate ventilation, heating to afford comfort for the housed pet.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example is given by way of illustration only and, while indicating preferred embodiment of the invention, is not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is made to the drawings in which:

' FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the building structure;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the upper member oriented 90 with respect to the lower member to leave a space between adjacent edge portions of the upper and lower members;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 along line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 66 of FIG. 3 showing only the lower member; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the building structure of FIG. 1 with interior and exterior accessories.

Throughout the description like reference numbers refer to similar parts.

This building structure is particularly adaptable in various sizes for housing pets such as dogs, cats, hamsters and the like. The structure here shown is about 42 inches on each side at the juncture of the lower and upper members. The domed upper member is about 22 inches high. The bowl shaped lower member is about 16 inches deep. Large sizes of the structure can be adaptable to play houses for small children. In such a case as a play house the lower member could be modified to be flat with depending legs.

The building structure or shelter is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a lower member 11 of molded bowllike shape and an upper member 12 of dome shape re ceived by the upper edge of the lower member 11.

.inches high.

The lower member 11 here shown is a molded member of polystyrene material that may be painted. It is molded in bowl shape having three spaced apart depending hollow leg portions 13, 14 and 15 that are hollow and can have ballast such as sand and small rocks placed therein to hold down the lower or bottom member. The lower member 11 is formed with a wall portion 16 that tapers inwardly from top edge to bottom and has an inwardly olfset ledge 17 formed therein intermediate the top and bottom to serve as a support for a floor board to be described. The wall 16 adjacent or between legs 13 and 15 protrudes inwardly at 18 so as to form an access opening 18a disposed generally vertically through which ingress and egress is made. The upper edge of the lower member 11 is made as a transversely outwardly extending flange 19 shaped to drain off rain and melting ice and snow. This flanged edge 19 has four stepped portions. Two of these stepped portions 19a are of one height and two portions 19b are of a slightly higher height. Between the flange portions 19a and 1% there is a sloping transition portion 19c joining adjacent portions 19a and 19b.

The bowl shaped bottom has a generally square flanged upper edge with three rounded corners and the access recess 18a at the fourth corner location in the depicted shelter or buildingstructure.

The upper member 12 in the form shown is dome shaped and is of a transparent material such as Plexiglas of about stock. It is formed from a sheet of stock 42 inches square in the structure depicted. The material is heated and blown on one side while a vacuum is applied to the opposite side. A mold is provided for the dome and with it rods are bent and placed to form the valleys 25 between the billowing out segments 26 which converge toward their top ends. This design adds strength to the upper member. The peak of the upper member terminates in a ventilation aperature 27, see FIG. 7, of about 4 inches diameter and the dome isabout 16 The lower edge of the upper member is flanged at 28a and 28b and stepped corresponding with the flanged upper edge of the lower member. A transition portion 280 joins the flanged'stepped portions 28a and 28b. Suitable U-shaped clips 29 are slipped over the abutting flanged portions of the lower and upper members.

The upper member 12 may be placed in direct flush contact with the lower member 11 as shown in FIG.1 and the U-shaped clips 29 slipped on to hold the member together. In FIG. 2 the upper member 12 is oriented about to the lower member 11 so as to leave a space between flanges 19a and 28b asva ventilation passage.

The access passage 18a, see FIG. 3, is covered over by the upper member 12 and this generally vertically extending passage serves as a means of access, yet prevents drafts, rain and snow from entering the structure. It serves as an airlock foringress and egress.

A ventilation cap 30 of formed U-like shape but having a curvature transverse to the U-shape has notched portions 30a so as to be received in the aperture 27 in the peak of the upper member. This cap might have a number of vertically spaced apart notches so that the cap could be raised or lowered, thus permitting control of the flow of air through the structure which enters through the passageway 18a and rises and leaves the structure through aperture 27. The ventilation cap or wind scoop may be oriented in any attitude through 360.

A sun shade 31 of opaque material generally triangular in shape is provided to cover about a third of the upper member. This shade 31 has upper hooks 3 1a received by the edge of aperture 27 and a lower hooked edge 31b received over the flanged bottom edge of the upper member. In place of the sun share, a portion of the upper member could be painted with non-toxic paint to provide a shaded area for the pet.

In FIG. 7 the billowing segments 26 are best shown as their upper ends billow out and then inwardly to meet to form the aperture 27. Also in FIG. 7 the various accessories that may be used are illustrated.

In the lower member there may be installed an electric fan 32 that is mounted on a triangular plate 33 having upstanding angle brackets 34 that rest on the ledge 17 and are apertured to receive suitable securing screws. This mounting of the fan places it below the level of the ledge 17. Also mounted in the lower member and below the area of ledge 17 is an electrical heating cord 35 having a protective plastic cover and a plug 35a that may be plugged into an electrical power cord (not shown).

On the ledge 17 is received a floor board that has vertical apertures 36a therethrough to provide for ventilation from the fan 32. A suitable mattress 37 may be placed on the floor board 36. If the weather is warm, a pad filled with cedar shavings could be used which would provide ventilation thereth-rough. If colder weather is bad, a foam rubber pad could be used for more warmth.

A further accessory is a'watering pan 38 that is mounted on its own electrical heater unit 39 that is attached to. the wall 18 of the lower member 11.

If the floor board 36 is not desired, the lower member 11 can have straw placed therein.

The airlock feature of the access passage 18a keeps out drafts and prevents entry of rain and snow. Control of the flow of air through the'interior may be adjusted by the vent cap 30 and by the vent openings created at the juncture of the lower and upper members. When the side vents are closed and the top vent nearly closed, as may be provided for by placing more spaced notches 30a therein, only enough air goes through the interior to permit the pet to be comfortable. Blowing snow, for example, will approach the opening 18a and falls downwithout entering the interior. In extreme cold weather there is as much as 28 degrees diiference between the outside and inside temperatures with a hunting dog occupying the interior without supplied heat. In extreme cold weather areas, the heating wire may be used. The heating wire also acts to defrost the upper member.

While a square shape at the juncture of the upper and lower members has been illustrated for the building structure other shapes as round, square and triangular could be utilized. In case of a larger structure for a childrens play house, a flat bottom with legs would be used and the upper member would be higher and probably opaque with windows.

I claim as my invention:

1. A building structure for housing animals comprising a lower member having a hollow bottom, open at its top and having a side wall and spaced apart ground engaging leg means, said side wall having an inwardly recessed portion forming an opening extending generally vertically for ingress and egress to the lower member, said leg means being closed at their bottom and sides and open at their top, and adapted to receive material to weigh the lower member down, and an upper member that is hollow and open at its bottom received and supported by the lower member with a portion extending outwardly beyond and above said inwardly protruding wall portion of the lower member whereby the opening for ingress and egress is covered by the upper member.

2. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the inwardly protruding wall forms portions of two of the spaced apart leg means.

3. A building structure comprising a lower member having a hollow bottom open at its top and having a side wall and spaced apart ground engaging leg means, said side wall having an inwardly recessed portion forming an opening extending generally vertically and providing a passage for ingress and egress, and an inverted cupshaped upper member that is hollow and open at its bottom received and supported by the lower member and having a portion extending above and over said inwardly recessed wall portion of the lower member thereby providing a cover over the same.

4. A building structure comprising a lower member having a hollow bottom open at the top and having a side wall and spaced apart ground engaging leg means, said side wall having an inwardly recessed portion forming an opening extending generally vertically and providing a passage for ingress and egress to the lower member, said wall of the lower member having a generally transversely extending flange at its top on a portion thereof, said wall at its top flanged portion having a portion thereof extending upward .a relatively short distance beyond the rest of the flanged top of the wall, and an upper member that is hollow and open at its bottom received and supported by the lower member with a portion extending outwardly beyond and above said inwardly recessed wall portion of the lower member, the bottom of said upper member having flanged portions thereof complementary to the flanged top portions of the lower member whereby the upper member may be supported by the lower member in at least two diflerent positions thereby fitting flush therewith or leaving an opening between the lower and upper member in portions for ventilation therethrough.

5. A building structure according to claim 4 wherein a portion of the inwardly protruding wall forms portions of two of the spaced apart leg means.

6. A building structure according to claim 4 wherein the upper member has a vent means in an upper portion thereof which permits control of the flow of air through the structure.

7. A building structure according to claim 6 wherein said upper member is transparent and has opaque means for a portion thereof.

8. A building structure according to claim 4 wherein the lower member has the side wall tapering inwardly from top to bottom and a horizontal inwardly extending ledge is formed therein intermediate its bottom and top and a removable floor supported on said ledge.

9. A building structure according to claim 8 including heating means and power driven ventilating means housed therein.

10. A building structure according to claim 9 wherein said removable floor has perforations extending vertically theret-hrough and said heating means and power driven ventilating means are positioned below said floor.

11. A building structure according to claim 10 wherein said upper member is transparent and including an opaque means adjustably positionable to blank out a portion of said transparent upper member.

12. A building structure according to claim 8 wherein said lower member at its top and said upper members at its bottom are generally square in plan and having round corners with said inwardly protruding side wall portion being at one of the corners of the lower member.

13. A building structure according to claim 8 wherein said top member is dome shaped and having outwardly protruding segments joined together integrally in ribbed valley portions so as to add strength to the top member.

14. A building structure comprising a lower member having a bowl-like shaped bottom and depending spaced apart ground engaging leg portions formed therein, said bowl-shaped bot-tom having an inwardly recessed portion forming an opening extending generally vertically and providing a passage for ingress and egress, and an inverted upper member received on said lower member that is dome-shaped and open at its bottom and having outwardly protruding segments joined together integrally in ribbed valley portions whereby to strengthen the top, said upper member having a portion extending above and over said inwardly recessed wall portion of the lower member thereby providing a cover over the same.

15. A building structure according to claim 14 wherein the upper member has its segments terminating at their upper ends to form a vent aperture in the peak of the upper member.

16. A building structure according to claim 15 wherein the upper member is transparent and has opaque means for shading a portion thereof.

17. A building structure according to claim 16 wherein said lower member has its upper edge formed with a. flange and said edge has stepped portions, said upper member is also formed with a flange and complementary stepped portions to those of the lower member so spaced that the upper member may be oriented with respect to the lower member to be supported in one position in spaced relation thereto to provide vent openings at portions of the lower and upper member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Minion 11919 Fulton 11919 Cole 119-19 Keating 46- 19 X Spindler 119-19 Worm 11919 Shechmeister et a1. 1l918 Daniel 119-19 Prince 119-23 FOREIGN PATENTS SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner. ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner. 

3. A BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A LOWER MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW BOTTOM OPEN AT ITS TOP AND HAVING A SIDE WALL AND SPACED APART GROUND ENGAGING LEG MEANS, SAID SIDE WALL HAVING AN INWARDLY RECESSED PORTION FORMING AN OPENING EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY AND PROVIDING A PASSAGE FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS, AND AN INVERTED CUPSHAPED UPPER MEMBER THAT IS HOLLOW AND OPEN AT ITS BOTTOM RECEIVED AND SUPPORTED BY THE LOWER MEMBER AND HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE AND OVER SAID INWARDLY RECESSED WALL PORTION OF THE LOWER MEMBER THEREBY PROVIDING A COVER OVER THE SAME. 